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LSU, Florida far from normal on defense in 2014

By WTOP Staff

MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — LSU and Florida were two of the more formidable defenses in the Southeastern Conference — and the country — the last five years.

They had NFL draft picks at nearly every position, highly touted underclassmen waiting in the wings and versatile schemes that proved to be too much for most opponents to handle. The Tigers and Gators ranked third and second, respectively, in the SEC (behind powerhouse Alabama) in total defense in three of the last four years.

Things sure have changed in 2014.

Both teams are having a difficult time equaling their recent defensive success. The Tigers gave up more than 1,100 yards in losses to Mississippi State and Auburn. The Gators were picked apart through the air by Kentucky and Alabama.

As strange as it has been to see LSU and Florida falter on defense, they might just look fairly stout when the Tigers (4-2, 0-2 SEC) and Gators (3-1, 2-1) play Saturday night at Florida Field. That’s because both teams have been even worse on offense.

“This defense has given great effort and energy, and they’re really making tackles,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “So if you want to see some really quality efforts, it’s there.”

The results were missing in the last two conference games.

Mississippi State gained 570 yards against the Tigers, and Auburn totaled 566. Quarterbacks Dak Prescott and Nick Marshall each passed for more than 200 yards and each ran for more than 100 yards.

Miles made a few personnel changes this week in hopes of finding a fix.

“We’re kind of all in agreement where we’re headed there, and I think it’s a very small shift,” Miles said. “But I don’t know that we’re going to toss anybody to the side and not count on them to be very significant as we go forward.”

Florida coach Will Muschamp already made a few defensive adjustments, and his unit played its best game since the season opener last week at Tennessee. The Gators gave up 233 yards in the 10-9 victory over the Volunteers.

Muschamp said both teams are dealing with ramifications of losing so many defensive players to the NFL in recent years. The Tigers had 14 defensive players drafted over the last three years, and the Gators had their best pass rusher and both starting cornerbacks leave school early after last season.

“You can’t recruit, in my opinion, to replace that that quickly,” Muschamp said. “It’s very difficult to overcome those, but nobody wants to hear that. At the end of the day, I can say it for Les. He can’t say it. It’s hard. It’s hard to replace that. It’s hard to recruit for that.”

___

Aside from defensive lapses, here are some things to know about the LSU and Florida matchup:

UNRANKED MATCHUP: Coming off a 41-7 loss at Auburn, LSU is unranked for the first time in six seasons and trying to avoid its first 0-3 start in league play since 1999. Florida also is out of the Top 25 poll, making Saturday’s game the first meeting since 1989 that both of these teams were unranked.

QB QUESTIONS: Florida’s quarterback situation is somewhat settled after a tumultuous week. Who LSU starts is still unclear. Florida’s Jeff Driskel was benched at Tennessee and looked like he might be demoted, but freshman Treon Harris was suspended indefinitely while authorities investigated sexual assault charges made against him. The woman withdrew her complaint Friday, but Harris is unlikely to play. So Driskel, who has regressed this season, is back in the spotlight. It’s unclear whether LSU will go with sophomore Anthony Jennings or freshman Brandon Harris, but both are likely to play.

JONES SLOWED: Florida running back Matt Jones, arguably the team’s most consistent player, has been slowed by a swollen left knee and could be limited. That could be a break for LSU, which has surrendered 600 yards on the ground in two conference games. With Jones hurting, the Gators expect sophomore Kelvin Taylor and freshman Brandon Powell to get more work.

HANDING OFF: The Tigers have been solid on the ground, averaging 211.5 yards rushing. Freshman Leonard Fournette leads the way with 364 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Kenny Hilliard and freshman Darrel Williams also are averaging about 5 yards a carry. The fewest running plays LSU has called in a game this season is 35.

WORTON’S RESCUE? Florida’s offensive woes include Driskel’s poor decisions, some protection issues, repeated wrong routes and at least 15 dropped passes. The Gators are counting on freshman C.J. Worton to help. He missed the first four games with a broken hand, but will make his collegiate debut Saturday.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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